DOCSLIB.ORG

Setting Sail

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Setting Sail 104.5mm 104.75mm 104.75mm 106mm Nelson Gallery Sailing Navy Gallery Sailing Navy Gallery Go to the display case immediately on your right Now turn to face the portraits on the back wall. Continue round the corner to the other side of this case. 11 15 as you enter. 18 Look at the picture in the middle. Creamware Frog mug Ship models made by French Captain Sir Harry Burrard Neale Staffordshire potteries discovered creamware whilst trying Prisoners of War Painted by Sir William to find a substitute for Chinese porcelain. It is made from Beechey. He studied During the Napoleonic Wars French prisoners were kept white Cornish Clay with a translucent glaze, creating the at the Royal Academy Setting in Portsmouth Dockyard. They carved to occupy their cream colour. Frog mugs originated in Sunderland, and in 1772. Some of his time and make money for extra food. As the daily food later Staffordshire and Worcestershire. smaller portraits gained ration included half a pound of meat on the bone, it was him considerable readily available as a raw material. Interestingly, for the reputation and he rigging, they often used their own hair. A sombre mug with a joke inside. began to be employed Very curious! We wondered why such by the nobility until in Sail a solemn scene on the outside was 1793 he was made We like the craftsmanship, combined with a frog on the inside. portrait-painter to there is such attention to Did Nelson have a frog in his throat! Queen Charlotte. detail! It is like recycling as they used the bones left over from their Now walk right to the back of the gallery. Find the case supper! Being prisoners 12 wto the left of the model of Emma Hamilton. they must have had lots of time on their hands to Emma Hamilton’s mourning locket make these. We would definitely like to meet him. He is very Emma had this made whilst in mourning for Nelson. dashing and handsome! His uniform is very smart The jewels are combined with a lock of Nelson’s hair, too – lots of gold braid, especially his epaulets. the codicil to his will and Nelson’s Prayer. Turn and head up the left-hand side of the gallery, 16 you will find your next artefact in a smaller case on the left towards the back. What a poignant memento of And finally in this gallery, go back up the left hand side of a famous love affair. The inscription Sir Christopher Cole’s silver vase 19 the gallery towards the entrance. Our last selection is to the is in Nelson’s own words showing right of the ‘Fight against slavers’ model. how important Emma’s destiny was This vase was presented to Captain Cole by to him. We found this piece terribly sad. Captains Foote and Kenah who fought with him Lord Exmouth’s sword at the battle of Banda Neira. Made by Makepeace and Harker in 1812, the rich decoration includes The City of London presentation sword war trophies similar to those of the Roman era. was awarded after the bombardment of Cross to the other corner of the gallery. You can see the Algiers. Its hilt is set with diamonds and the 13 next item on a ledge to the right of the table. guard inscription includes ‘in testimony of the esteem & gratitude of this court for the Trafalgar Vase We love the decoration, especially the zeal & bravery displayed in the conclusion This was made by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd and symbols with interesting meanings. For of securing the abolition forever of the horrid presented to the Royal Navy to commemorate the example, the laurel leaves mean Victory, system of Christian slavery’. 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. and the grapes represent Bacchus It is the only one of its kind in existence. and celebration. Each one is unique. You can imagine him saying “it’s not Even though this is modern, its design is yours – it’s mine!” They make Continue to the back left-hand side of the gallery. you think about his story. traditional and, in classical Wedgewood 17 The next item is in the case on the left wall and has style, reminiscent of a Grecian urn. It is its own unique stand. beautiful and unique, demonstrating that with the craftsmanship is still alive today. Naval General Service Medal The 1848 Naval General Service Medal was Friday Club Trail awarded to those who had served between Walk back up the gallery to the entrance. Before you exit That’s it! We hope you enjoyed our selection. 1793 and 1840. The profile of Queen Victoria 14 go to the case to the left of the door. If you would like to comment on our work Take a tour of the galleries to investigate some of our was by William Wyon, the chief engraver at please visit our facebook page wonderful decorative arts. All the objects have been the Royal Mint, who was influenced by the ‘National Museum of the Royal Navy’. Staffordshire figures famous relief sculptor John Flaxman. specially chosen by The Friday Club, a social activity Staffordshire figures are folk art. Made for the middle classes, group for older people based at the John Pounds they echo their tastes and interests. To make them clay was Centre in Portsmouth. They picked these items pressed into moulds, We really like how the eagle is holding out of personal interest as well as for fired and painted by the medal in its beak – it looks like it has the artistry, skills and workmanship unskilled workers – These pieces are full of history. swooped down thinking ‘I’ll have that!’ Not only because of the famous they demonstrate. often children. and flown back to its perch. Its wings scene they represent but also look protective – telling people ‘you because they are typical of can’t have my medal’. “Nelsoniana” and the Victorian need to show status by having lots of ornaments! Leave this gallery and walk across to the Sailing Navy Gallery opposite. 106mm 104.75mm 104.75mm 104.5mm Victory Gallery Victory Gallery Victory Gallery Nelson Gallery Start your tour on the ground floor of the Victory Gallery. Now turn around. You can’t miss the next object as it’s On entering the Nelson Gallery the next object is in a case Walk round to the other side of the case for the next item. 1 Walk down the right hand side of the gallery. The first item 3 6 suspended from the ceiling in the middle of the gallery! 8 ahead of you to the left. is in a case on the right, just round the corner from the entrance to the Family Area. Admiral Codrington’s medals State barge of King Charles II Glass rummer Captain Pasco’s Prayer Book The Silver Trafalgar Medal, designed Built in 1670, the barge was decorated for Nelson’s The name rummer has nothing to do with rum! It comes by Matthew Boulton, was given funeral by shrouding the gilding and paint in black velvet from the German Römer, a green wine glass that evolved Prayer Books were used for church services, personal to every sailor and marine who and placing a large canopy with black ostrich feathers in the Rhineland and Netherlands over prayer and special occasions. This particular book with fought at Trafalgar. It is believed over the stern. several centuries. They were first made in its brass clasp and decoration was clearly designed as a that 17,264 medals were this country in the 18th century and used gift or elegant keepsake, which is probably why Captain given out. to drink naval grog or beer. They were also Pasco chose it as a present for his wife on their wedding When looking at the barge popular as presents or prizes. day in 1843. it provokes emotion, and We chose these medals a feeling of nostalgia. It is We liked this because it because of the workmanship, fascinating to know that I thought this was a bit fancy for is a personal item whose especially the beautiful it also belonged to King rum and it’s interesting to know simplicity only adds to its enamelling. The colours make Charles II, this means it the name is German from the appeal. It has a unique them very impressive and has two major places in 3rd Century. We picked this as design with a lock, which they really stand out. It is also history. the glass is exquisite with beautiful makes you want to see fascinating to imagine the man engravings commemorating three inside! It also reminds me behind the medals. famous Admirals. of my father, as he owned a book just like this. Continue up the other side of the gallery. The next 7 object is at the end on the left. 4 Now go upstairs. Looking in the direction of the barge, go to the 9 Go to the right of this display. Just round the corner of the first case on your left, just round the corner from the stairs. HMS Bellerophon figurehead case you will find the next two items. Anti-Slavery plaque HMS Bellerophon was formerly HMS Waterloo when the Loving cup This plaque shows enslaved Africans begging Britannia figurehead was a full-length representation of the Duke Loving Cups were used for weddings, banquets and to set them free. Behind there is a naval ship flying the of Wellington. When the ship changed name in 1824, ceremonial drinking as a symbol of friendship and white ensign.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Sails of Glory Battle for the Seas a Sails of Glory Campaign
    Sails Of Glory Battle for the Seas A Sails of Glory Campaign Time Sometime during the Napoleonic Wars 1803-1805. Info about the Campaign After Napoleon had won many great victories on land in Europe, and crushed every country in battle. France was the dominating power in Europe on land and the English were masters of the sea. Behind their wooden wall of ships, they were relatively safe from any invasion force. Napoleon wanted to change this and invade England. In March 1802 a peace treaty was signed between France and England in Amiens, France. But both countries were irritated and angry with each other’s actions in the aftermath of the peace treaty, and it was an uneasy peace. And after some diplomatic quarrels England declared war on France again in May 1803. After war broke out again, Napoleon started preparation for invasion of England – but to have success, he needed to take out the English fleet that protected the English Channel. From 1803 to 1805 a new army of 150 000-200,000 men, known as the Armée des côtes de l'Océan (Army of the Ocean Coasts) or the Armée d'Angleterre (Army of England), was gathered and trained at camps at Boulogne, Bruges and Montreuil. A large "National Flotilla" of invasion barges was built in Channel ports along the coasts of France and the Netherlands. A fleet of nearly 2000 craft. At the same time he made plans with the Spanish to assemble a large fleet, which was strong enough to challenge the English Navy, and make it possible for Napoleon to invade England.
    [Show full text]
  • Captain John Denison, D.S.O., R.N. Oct
    No. Service: Rank: Names & Service Information: Supporting Information: 27. 1st 6th Captain John Denison, D.S.O., R.N. Oct. Oct. B. 25 May 1853, Rusholine, Toronto, 7th child; 5th Son of George Taylor Denison (B. 1904 1906. Ontario, Canada. – D. 9 Mar 1939, 17 Jul 1816, Toronto, Ontario, Canada -D. 30 Mason Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada. B. May 1873, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) [Lawyer, 1 Oct 1904 North York, York County, Ontario, Colonel, General, later minister of Church) and Canada. (aged 85 years). Mary Anne Dewson (B. 24 May 1817, Enniscorthy, Ireland -D. 1900, Toronto, 1861 Census for Saint Patrick's Ontario, Canada). Married 11 Dec 1838 at St Ward, Canada West, Toronto, shows James Church. Toronto, Canada John Denison living with Denison family aged 9. Canada Issue: West>Toronto. In all they had 11 children; 8 males (sons) and 3 It is surmised that John Denison females (daughters). actually joined the Royal Navy in 18 Jul 1878 – John Denison married Florence Canada. Ledgard, B. 12 May 1857, Chapel town, 14 May 1867-18 Dec 1868 John Yorkshire, -D. 1936, Hampshire, England. Denison, aged 14 years, attached to daughter of William Ledgard (1813-1876) H.M.S. “Britannia” as a Naval Cadet. [merchant] and Catherina Brooke (1816-1886) “Britannia” was a wooden screw st at Roundhay, St John, Yorkshire, England. Three decker 1 rate ship, converted to screw whilst still on her stocks. Issue: (5 children, 3 males and 2 females). Constructed and launched from 1. John Everard Denison (B. 20 Apr 1879, Portsmouth Dockyard on 25 Jan Toronto, Ontario, Canada - D.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Scenarios Historical Scenarios
    HISTORICAL SCENARIOS HISTORICAL SCENARIOS ere are several historical scenarios that can KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE be played using the ships from Series 1. KS01 La Concorde 1777 / Junon 1778 HSuggestions are also given for replacing any ships not currently available. KS02 Fougueux 1785 / Redoutable 1791 If a player does not have some of the listed ships, he KS03 HMS Juno 1780 / HMS Castor 1785 can replace them with ships from the same class. KS04 HMS Bellerophon 1786 / HMS Defi ance 1783 OPTIONAL RULES 2 SERIES 1 FIELD OF FIRE 101A HMS Concorde 1783 / HMS Unite 1796 A British innovation by Captain Sir Charles Douglas helped guns fi re at as much as a 45° angle. Before 101B Hermione 1779 / L’Inconstante 1786 this, the fi eld of fi re was more restricted. If this optional rule is in use and the scenario is set before 102A HMS Impetueux 1796 / HMS Spartiate 1798 the Battle of Saintes (9–12 April 1782), when fi ring a forward or a rear broadside, the main mast of the 102B Commerce de Bordeaux 1785 / Duguay–Trouin 1788 target must be within the fi ring arc. Although other parts of the ship may be within the fi eld of fi re, if the 103A Embuscade 1798 / Le Succès 1801 main mast is not, the ship cannot be targeted. 103B HMS Cleopatra 1779 / HMS Iphigenia 1780 104A Le Berwick 1795 / Le Swiftsure 1801 104B HMS Bellona 1760 / HMS Goliath 1781 COMBAT, FINALLY! FRENCH SIDE HMS Bellona, after months of uneventful Winning Conditions: Score 1 point for each enemy French Setup Zone patrolling, meets a small French fleet and engages frigate eliminated, 2 points for every French ship after a long chase.
    [Show full text]
  • Kingsbridge, Salcombe and the South Hams During the French
    Kingsbridge, Salcombe and the South Hams during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1793-1815 Roger Barrett Kingsbridge Estuary U3A History Group, April 2021 Revolutionary France’s declaration of war against Britain in 1793 ushered in a generation of global conflict that finally ended with the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s exile to St Helena in 1815. The South Hams played a small but not insignificant part in these long wars. The area provided grain to feed a hungry nation, men to defend its shores and was the scene of both first and the last naval events in home waters: the Battle of Prawle Point in 1793 and, in 1815, the transfer of Napoleon to the ship that would take him into exile. Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Dartmouth in the late 1790s At the close of the eighteenth century, Kingsbridge was a thriving market town at the centre of a rich grain-growing district. According to Richard Polwhele in 1793, Kingsbridge was one of the chief corn markets of the county and more corn was shipped from there than ‘from any other port in Devon Shire’.1 In 1801, the town (with its neighbour Dodbrooke) had a population of 1700 and was noted for its production of woollen cloth used in the manufacture of army uniforms, as well as rope for naval use. The Quaker’s, Walter Prideaux & John Roope, began the manufacture of serge cloth in 1798 when they converted Town Mill, formerly the corn mill, in Mill Street. Cloth was also weaved in Lavers’ mill in Duncombe Street.2 Rope for ships was made in Bonker’s ropewalk in Western backway and, in 1804, Kingsbridge made a further contribution to the war effort when an army barracks for over 600 men was built on the Warren to the south of the town.
    [Show full text]
  • Sxecy [Read Free Ebook] the Surrender of Napoleon Online
    sxecy [Read free ebook] The Surrender of Napoleon Online [sxecy.ebook] The Surrender of Napoleon Pdf Free Frederick Lewis Maitland *Download PDF | ePub | DOC | audiobook | ebooks Download Now Free Download Here Download eBook 2017-02-17Original language:English 9.00 x .43 x 6.00l, #File Name: 1543145892190 pages | File size: 63.Mb Frederick Lewis Maitland : The Surrender of Napoleon before purchasing it in order to gage whether or not it would be worth my time, and all praised The Surrender of Napoleon: 0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Capture of the EmperorBy JEPGreat book, loved it. Maitland was the Captain of the Bellerophon, the Royal Navy ship to which Napoleon surrendered and which then transported Napoleon to England (before he was sent to St. Helena). The book reads almost like a novel in the Hornblower series or Patrick Orsquo;Brianrsquo;s ldquo;Master Commanderrdquo; books, and would appeal to anyone who enjoys those types of stories. Maitland describes the thin blockade that lead to Napoleonrsquo;s capture and prevention of his escape to America, which was a very near run thing in actuality. There is also a fascinating account of Napoleonrsquo;s time on the ship and the tangled dealings of both Maitland and Napoleon with other Royal Navy officers and government officials, including some that are humorous. Lord Keith is a major player in the story, and other events and persons alluded to will also be familiar to readers of Orsquo;Brianrsquo;s series.Amazingly, the biggest personality involved, over any of these men of high rank, was one Madame Bertrand, the hot tempered and melodramatic wife of one of the French generals who decided to accompany Napoleon into exile - much to the chagrin of Mdm.
    [Show full text]
  • Britain on the High Seas – Trafalgar, Trophies and Trade
    BRITAIN ON THE HIGH SEAS ON BRITAIN BRITAIN ON THE HIGH SEAS Trafalgar, Trophies and Trade Trafalgar, Trophies Trophies and Trade Trafalgar, Charles Wallrock www.wickantiques.co.uk CHARLES WALLROCK Wick Antiques Ltd, Riverside Business Park. Gosport Street, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 9BB Mobile: 07768 877069 Showroom: 01590 677558 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wickantiques.co.uk BRITAIN ON THE HIGH SEAS Trafalgar, Trophies and Trade CHARLES WALLROCK 2 Foreword Table of Contents 3 The Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 is the most achievement. While maintaining the overriding wartime Trafalgar to Waterloo 3636 Cary’s 12-inch table globes Trade: Oriental influences and famous event in British naval history. It represented not commitment to build, commission, man and supply its materials in England 4 4 A monumental royal coat of 3838 Wellington and Bonaparte in only the frustration of Napoleon Bonaparte’s plans to Navy, an army on the Continent, and financing European 72 arms by John Steell alabaster 72 Chinese Chippendale style invade England but also the culmination of forty years of alliances, a revolution was taking place in industrial mirrors by George Godley 8 8 Admiral Visc. Bridport’s seal conflict, principally with France, for worldwide ascendancy practices and production at home. At the same time, 3939 Bronze cannon at Waterloo 7474 A George III coromandel chest over the oceans, colonies and their trade routes. The challenging intellectual and political life was also being 9 9 Captain Hood’s seal death of Admiral Nelson, since 1798 the national hero of reflected in the cultural, literary and artistic worlds.
    [Show full text]
  • War Medals, Orders and Decorations
    War Medals, Orders and Decorations To be sold by auction at: Sotheby’s, in the Lower Grosvenor Gallery The Aeolian Hall, Bloomfield Place New Bond Street London W1A 2AA Day of Sale: Thursday 6 July 2017 at 12.00 noon and 2.30 pm Public viewing: Nash House, St George Street, London W1S 2FQ Monday 3 July 2017 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Tuesday 4 July 2017 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Wednesday 5 July 2017 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Or by previous appointment. Catalogue no. 88 Price £15 Enquiries: James Morton or David Kirk Cover illustrations: Lot 44 (front); lot 189 (back); lot 9 (inside front) Nash House, St George Street, London W1S 2FQ Tel.: +44 (0)20 7493 5344 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mortonandeden.com This auction is conducted by Morton & Eden Ltd. in accordance with our Conditions of Business printed at the back of this catalogue. All questions and comments relating to the operation of this sale or to its content should be addressed to Morton & Eden Ltd. and not to Sotheby’s. Online Bidding This auction can be viewed online at www.the-saleroom.com and www.numisbids.com Morton & Eden Ltd offers an online bidding service via www.the-saleroom.com. This is provided on the under- standing that Morton & Eden Ltd shall not be responsible for errors or failures to execute internet bids for reasons including but not limited to: i) a loss of internet connection by either party; ii) a breakdown or other problems with the online bidding software; iii) a breakdown or other problems with your computer, system or internet connec- tion.
    [Show full text]
  • Book of Wonder, Where We Have Found Even More Quirky and Fascinating Facts About Our Amazing Waterfront City, As Well As Refreshing Some of Our Original Ones
    PLYMOUTH’S OVER 100 AMAZING FACTS SECOND EDITION Welcome to the second edition of the Plymouth Book of Wonder, where we have found even more quirky and fascinating facts about our amazing waterfront city, as well as refreshing some of our original ones. The book continues to give you a flavour of what makes Plymouth the vibrant, creative and exciting ocean city that it is today. Plymouth is an ambitious city with huge growth potential and is undergoing exciting changes, with many more on the horizon. We have already seen the transformation of Millbay and Royal William Yard, now a cultural hotspot for restaurants, art galleries and events. It’s this creativity and vibrancy, along with our spectacular waterfront location and rich heritage that provides such a fantastic quality of life, making Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City the perfect location to live, work and invest. To find out more about business opportunities in Plymouth, contact the Enterprise and Inward Investment team on: T +44 1752 307360 E [email protected] W investinplymouth.co.uk @investplymouth We gratefully acknowledge the support from all the businesses and organisations that have helped us by providing images and information for this guide, with special thanks to the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery and Corporate Communications Department. Every care has been taken to ensure the information contained in this publication is correct at time of printing; however Plymouth City Council cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions or actions being taken on reliance
    [Show full text]
  • Admiral Lord Keith and the Naval War Against Napoleon'
    H-Maritime Mercer on McCranie, 'Admiral Lord Keith and the Naval War against Napoleon' Review published on Wednesday, November 1, 2006 Kevin D. McCranie. Admiral Lord Keith and the Naval War against Napoleon. Bradford and Gene A. Smith, Series Editors. New Perspectives on Maritime History and Nautical Archaeology. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2006. xv + 256 pp. $55.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-8130-2939-9. Reviewed by Keith Mercer (Department of History, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia) Published on H-Maritime (November, 2006) Beyond Nelson: The Life of a Forgotten British Admiral The bicentennial of Lord Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005 generated a massive printing drive. Dozens of biographies hit the shelves and historians continue to be swamped by the multitude of studies on the Royal Navy's crowning achievement in the Age of Sail. This is nothing new: Nelson has always dominated the biographical landscape. Daring and aggressive, he first rose to prominence during the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1797, and then emerged as "Britannia's God of War" with his victories at the Battle of the Nile in 1798, Copenhagen in 1801, and Trafalgar in 1805.[1] He died a war hero; the people's war hero. Even today Britons flock to his tomb in St. Paul's Cathedral, Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, and walk the decks of HMS Victory in Portsmouth. In some respects our fascination with Nelson has led to the neglect of the larger history of the Royal Navy. Nowhere is this more evident than with Nelson's contemporaries.
    [Show full text]
  • The Graphic Memoirs of Captain Elzéar Blaze
    The Napoleon Series Reviews Blaze, Elzéar. Life in Napoleon's Army: The Graphic Memoirs of Captain Elzéar Blaze. Frontline Books, Barnsley (UK), 2015. 198 paqes. ISBN# 1848328222. Hardcover. £19.95, US$39.95 Colin Pengelly. H.M.S. Bellerophon. Pen and Sword Maritime, Barnsley (UK), 2014. 304 pages, ISBN# 9781783462407. Hardcover. £19.95, US $39.95. The British publisher Pen and Sword is starting to reprint older Greenhill titles on Napoleonic subjects and these two books are part of that venture. Many readers will have purchased copies of these titles when they were in the Greenhill line but for those who did not, these re-issues in hard cover of some classic works of Napoleonic literature are worth acquiring. They are also reasonably priced. The military memoirs of Elzéar Blaze will be known to any serious student of the French army. They have seen many reprints -- in the last two decades alone Greenhill printed them in 1995, The Empire's Press in 2001 and Leonaur in 2007. The Pen and Sword/Frontline edition is a reprint of the 1995 edition and has an introduction by Philip Haythornthwaite and commentary by General Sir Charles James Napier, brother of the Peninsular historian, William Napier. Bluntly honest, Charles Napier notes that, if in his editorial comments, he has been stupid and prosy, I am sorry for it; but the reader has the remedy in his hands. Few men read observations and notes, so the former may skip over the "Editor's" dull notes and lose very little; for the small merit they contain is like a bad gold mine, and will not, I fear, repay the trouble of working.
    [Show full text]
  • Engineering the American Military Nation, 1814-1821 Dissertation
    Importing Napoleon: Engineering the American Military Nation, 1814-1821 Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Jonathan M. Romaneski, M.A. Graduate Program in History The Ohio State University 2017 Dissertation Committee: Dr. Mark Grimsley, Advisor Dr. John Brooke Dr. Jennifer Siegel Copyright by Jonathan Romaneski 2017 Abstract As the War of 1812 drew to a close, the American nation was economically exhausted and politically upended. The great crisis of the war loomed over the American shorelines from mid-1814 onward, when British reinforcements under a new and more aggressive British commander threatened offensive thrusts into U.S. territory at multiple points. Americans were completely unprepared to meet the British invasion attempts; the United States parried all British thrusts in 1814 almost in spite of itself. Thus, by the end of 1814, the Madison administration (with strong input from James Monroe) began to seek to reform the American military establishment to ensure a more disciplined and uniform militia system, a better-educated and “professional” officer corps, and a stout system of seacoast fortifications. The reformers looked no further than the Napoleonic military system for all their answers. In order to convince the American people and their congressional representatives that greater investment in a Napoleonic-style army was necessary, the reformers relied on a narrative of the War of 1812 that emphasized the frailty of the militia and the heroism of the regulars. Complicating the reformers’ narrative was, first, the strong antimilitary ideological traditions that Americans had held so closely since the Revolutionary era, and second, a counternarrative of the war that arose from Andrew Jackson’s victory at New Orleans.
    [Show full text]
  • 7. the Threat from France 1778-83 and 1793-1815
    Salcombe Maritime History Paper No. 7 The Threat from France: 1778-83 and 1793-1815 Roger Barrett Part 1. The American War of Independence (1776-83) On the ninth day of November, at the dawning in the sky, Ere we sailed away to New York, we at anchor here did lie; O‘er the meadows fair of Kingsbridge, then the mist was lying grey; We were bound against the rebels, in North Americay. O, so mournful was the parting of the soldiers and their wives, For that none could say for certain they‘d return home with their lives. Then the women they were weeping, and they cursed the cruel day That we sailed against the rebels, in North Americay.’ This ballad, dating from between 1776 and 1780, recalls the time when British soldiers, destined to fight in the American War of Independence, embarked on troopships from the West Country, thus saving a week or more beating down channel against the prevailing westerly winds. The main impact of the war locally, however, came when France, the old enemy across the Channel, joined the fray in 1778. The first event of note was on 9th October 1779 when Richard Valentine, the Customs Officer at Salcombe wrote to his superior at Dartmouth, Captain Mitchell, informing him that, on the previous night, a Topsham pilot-boat had come into Salcombe with thirteen of the crew of the frigate HMS Quebec which had been blown up in an engagement with a French forty-gun ship, off Ushant. Three of the men were severely wounded and a doctor, sent for from Kingsbridge, had dressed their wounds.
    [Show full text]